Grand Opening Promotional Sale!

In honor of tonight's
ART OPENING
and
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY,
I hereby announce the
GRAND OPENING
of my pet portraiture business,

Stray Dog Arts!

For the past 6 weeks I have spent every ounce of energy preparing for this leap into the wild and wonderful unknown, taking all the steps necessary to begin living an AUTHENTIC new life.

And now...it is time to LEAP!!!

I might not have done this if it were not for my blogging sisters.
I might not have done this if it were not for the Be Brave Project.
I might not have done this if it were not for this incredible network of inspiration and support that you, my blogging friends, provide.
I might not have done this if... well, there are probably a lot of reasons.

But the thing is...
I'M DOING IT!

Some how, some way, I came to this space within where I met my truest self. And since that day I have not been able to turn back.

In celebration and gratitude of the connections that have led me to this most incredible time in my life, I want to offer you (and the friends and family who hear about this offer through you)...

30% OFF
the regular price
of commissioned pet portraits
NOW until April 30th, 2008

If you
or someone you know is interested,
please contact me
here
{jessie at straydogarts dot com}

TO RECEIVE THE SPECIAL PRICE,
BE SURE TO MENTION THIS DISCOUNT
WHEN CONTACTING ME.

Since I am already booked with commissions until mid-April, the sooner you are able to contact me, the better--so that I can reserve your spot in line (yes, can you believe it? i have a line!). Once May hits I will begin advertising more vigorously and I may not be able to off this price again.

In the meantime, this is my gift to you, dear blogging friends. I also invite you to link to this post on your own blog in order to share this offer in proper blogging-fashion. ;) I cannot even tell you how much happiness this endeavor of painting these beautiful and beloved animals brings me. And so I want to share that love with you.

Thank you for propelling me to BE BRAVE.


Thank you for propelling me towards my truest self.

* * *

Artist's Statement:

I began my artistic career doing portraits of people, focusing primarily on those colorful individuals that I met in my travels abroad. What I found most fascinating was how each person, mostly strangers, emerged on the canvas as I painted them. During those long hours spent in the studio, the people I painted slowly came to life and grew to be my friends—each with a personality and unique story all their own.

It should not have surprised me that the same thing would happen in doing pet portraits. The thing I love most about painting is the way a relationship develops between my self and the interesting characters who reveal themselves through the end of my paintbrush. Each time, it is a wonderful surprise—and dogs are no exception. If anything, they exemplify what it is that I love most about painting. I cannot help it, a bond is formed. Whether it is my own dog or those that I’ve only met through the creative act of painting, I feel as though I come to know each of these beautiful beings on a very deep and genuine level—and I cannot fathom anything more satisfying that this.

One day I was outside shoveling snow when, seemingly out of no where, I asked myself an innocent question: “What makes me happiest?” The answer came easily: "Dogs and Art." At that very moment, I felt something shift inside of me and my life has not been the same since. From this question Stray Dog Arts was born.

There is a Zen story about an old monk who practiced for over forty years in a monastery and then became disgusted—I’m getting nowhere he thought—and decided to leave. As he walked down the path to the gate, with his few belongings on his back, he noticed that the walkway looked a bit messy. He went to get a rake to smooth it out. As he raked the dirt, one pebble flew out, hit some bamboo standing nearby, and made a sharp sound. The instant the monk heard that sound he became fully and completely enlightened.

I do not know what the old monk was thinking at that exact moment. Nor do I know the color for the sound of a single pebble. But I do know that I paint because it gives me the feeling that something real is happening.

I paint pet portraits because I have more love for animals than I know what to do. I paint because there is something beautiful to be captured in those transitory moments we share with the pets who have stolen our hearts for good. I paint to tell a story. I paint dogs (and cats and horses) because now I cannot stop.

For me, it is not just about getting a painting to look like a specific pet; it’s about capturing his or her personality. I believe that an animal’s spirit is conveyed through its eyes, a particular expression, and even the subtlest of gestures. My goal as an artist and animal lover is to create artwork that honors the beautiful and unique life-force within each of us. I find pet portraits particularly rewarding because, in short, they make me happy. I have wanted to work with animals ever since I was a little girl and am grateful beyond words that I am able to do this through my art.

I pour my heart and soul into every painting that I do and if there is one gift I would like to give the world, it would be happiness. Often, our pets are the ones who give us the greatest happiness of all. My paintings, well, they are but a heartfelt gesture in celebration of the unconditional love and infinite happiness that our four-legged friends have brought to us.